CVE-2018-0120 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web framework of Cisco Unified Communications Manager could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct an SQL injection attack against an affected system. The vulnerability exists because the affected software fails to validate user-supplied input in certain SQL queries that bypass protection filters. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting crafted HTTP requests that contain malicious SQL statements to an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to determine the presence of certain values in the database of the affected system. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg74810.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0120 resides within Cisco Unified Communications Manager's web framework, representing a critical security flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute SQL injection attacks against affected systems. This weakness specifically targets the application's failure to properly validate user-supplied input within certain SQL queries, creating an exploitable condition that bypasses existing protection mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to the system, making it accessible to attackers who have legitimate access credentials but do not necessarily possess administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation processes within the web application layer of Cisco Unified Communications Manager. When legitimate users submit HTTP requests containing crafted SQL statements, the system fails to sanitize or properly validate these inputs before incorporating them into database queries. This allows maliciously constructed SQL code to be executed within the database context, potentially revealing sensitive information about database structures and content. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to probe database contents and potentially extract confidential information. An attacker could exploit this weakness to determine the presence of specific values within the database, which might include user credentials, system configurations, or other sensitive data that could facilitate further attacks. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that an attacker with valid user credentials could leverage this vulnerability to escalate their access privileges or gain deeper insights into the system's internal workings, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates, implementing robust input validation measures, and conducting thorough security assessments of their web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the technique of SQL Injection, which falls within the broader category of credential access and privilege escalation activities. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the organization's broader infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.